A Framework for Integrating Life Cycle Assessment into Building Value Chain Management: An Environmental and Economic Analysis

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Semnan University, Semnan, Iran

10.22075/svcm.2025.39486.1065

Abstract

The extensive consumption of raw materials in the construction industry has led to the overexploitation of natural resources and a significant increase in energy use throughout various construction phases. The selection of materials with high embodied energy not only raises energy demand during production but also contributes to higher operational energy consumption over the building’s service life. The objective of this study is to analyze the environmental impacts of common building materials and determine their position within the value chain from a sustainable development perspective. The research employed the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) method using data from the Ecoinvent v2.0 database. The assessment covered the stages of material production, transportation, construction, and end-of-life disposal for widely used materials such as brick, cement, wood, steel, aluminum, insulation materials, and glass. The evaluated indicators included primary energy demand, CO₂ emissions, water consumption, waste generation, and transportation impacts, all analyzed within the framework of the construction value chain.
The findings revealed that natural materials such as wood and cellulosic fibers have the lowest environmental impacts, whereas industrial materials like tiles, aluminum, and steel exhibit the highest. The use of recycled materials, green fuels, and advanced manufacturing technologies can significantly reduce CO₂ emissions and overall energy demand. LCA thus serves as an effective tool for informed decision-making within the building material value chain. Furthermore, promoting clean technologies, establishing national databases for building materials, and encouraging the use of environmental labeling can foster healthy competition among producers and advance the transition toward sustainable construction practices.

Keywords

References

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Strategic Value Chain Management
Volume 3, Issue 1 - Serial Number 8
Research papers
In Progress
May 2026
Pages 1-21

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History

  • Receive Date: 24 October 2025
  • Revise Date: 24 November 2025
  • Accept Date: 07 December 2025
  • Publish Date: 21 April 2026

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